MTH ELECTRIC TRAINS

The Budd Company has long been held synonymous with passenger car construction. Yet Budd proved to be very revolutionary in the design of self-propelled passenger cars as well. One of their most unique designs came from a project commissioned by the Burlington Railroad which simply asked for a stainless steel train, powered by a diesel engine and capable of travelling 100 miles per hour. The consist needed to be equipped with a Railway Post Office compartment, contain space enough for 25 tons of baggage and express and be capable of seating 70 passengers. The Burlington left it up to the Budd company as to how they would accomplish the request. The 3-unit articulated consist that Budd ultimately delivered employed the use of lightweight stainless steel construction that borrowed on aircraft fuselage technology. By using a tubular shape, Budd was able to disperse the cars weight over fewer trucks while creating a stronger design than traditional car bodies afforded. The final design was unique not only in appearance but in function as well. The low, sweeping design and rounded "shovel" nose made Zephyr's a popular siding attraction and frequent subject of railfan shutterbugs all over the country. MTH is proud to return the Zephyr to our RailKing lineup this time in its Flying Yankee livery. Its sleek look and smooth operating performance are sure to please both the operator and collector. Available in two different versions, the Zephyr features all of the standard and optional features shown below.